The Wonders of a Florence Trip: Reveling in the Past and the Present Beauty of Florence

Florence or Firenze in Italian was where the Italian Renaissance revolved about then. It was home to a lot of popular artists, among which are Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Today, it is teeming with culture and art, making it one of the world’s most fascinating cities to visit.

Florence is basically immersed in history. It was witness to all the revolutionary developments in the fields of politics, literature, science and art, being home to a lot of the world’s prodigious thinkers during the 14th century and to the Renaissance that had brought tremendous impact in all of Europe.

With these and more, while using your Florence trip planner schedule visiting the following historical sites:

•  Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio or “Old Bridge” in Italian is a medieval bridge that traverses the famous Arno River and known today for the long stretch of shops hanging off its side. Then, it housed fishmongers and butcher but at present, it boasts of some of the world’s premiere jewelers and goldsmiths.

• Basilica de Santa Maria del Fiore

Popularly known as “The Duomo”, the Basilica de Santa Maria del Fiore is a cathedral in Florence whose dome overlooks a great part of the city’s breathtaking skyline. Its exterior boasts of perfectly elegant arrays of green, white and pink marble. It is a living proof of the advances in the field of science during the Renaissance period.

• Michelangelo’s David

“The David” is one of Michelangelo’s greatest masterpieces as well as one of the world’s best-recognized sculptures. It’s a powerful marble statue of David who fought against Goliath in the biblical scriptures. Today, it is seen as a representation of the youthful human strength and beauty.

• Uffizi Museum

Any art-lover’s Florence trip will be such a waste without a visit to the exceptionally famous Uffizi Museum. It houses the best collection of the world’s Italian Renaissance art. Included in the enormous collection are paintings made by Masaccio, Michelangelo, Cimabue, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli and many others.



Apart from its wonderful culture and rich history, Florence is also teeming with a wide variety of top-quality shops, restaurants and clubs anyone planning a trip to Florence will surely love.

For fashion lovers, designer outlets such as those of Roberto Cavalli, Salvatore Ferragamo, Prada and Gucci where one can purchase just the finest jewelry, silks, leather goods and Italian shoes are all easy to spot in the city.

The streets of Florence are as well swarming with various stalls that offer all the best deals on presents and souvenirs perfect for those traveling in a tight budget. For foodies on the other hand, Oltrarno, a backstreet area situated across Ponte Vecchio, is among the must-visit places in Florence. Oltrarno is brimming with various wine bars and restaurants, some of which feature the bests of the Italian cuisine.

Read more about preparing to Florence trip.

Explore One of France’s Captivating Cities: Plan Your Trip to Marseille

Marseille is like its world-renowned bouillabaisse soup – a beautiful array of cultures that all contribute to the creation of a lively final product.Marseille, areal immigrant city, offers a palate of both the modern and ancient Mediterranean cultures.

Here are a few suggestions which can make your Marseille trips prolific and yet practical.

Accommodation

Marseille trips on a budget can get very tricky. The ultimate money-saving tip is to stay in youth hostels.

Auberge de Jeunesse Marseille is one perfect choice when you are looking for a beautiful yet budget-friendly place to stay in Marseille. This hostel boasts of simple yet fully serviced studios that will only cost you approximately €230 a week. Moreover, they are equipped with all basic kitchen utensils and appliances. Plus, you may avail of a WI-FI connection for only a small extra charge.

However, if you like to have a real city experience during your Marseille trips, all you need to do is hang around their train station upon your arrival. A lot of locals regularly visit the place to offer some rooms in their houses to tourists. The usual prices for the accommodation are fairly reasonable. There will even be some who will offer a free breakfast or dinner.


Chateau d’If

When you plan your trip to Marseille, make sure that you include Le Chateau d'If in your list of places to visit.

Le Chateau d'If is a former prison and now has become one of the most frequented tourist destinations in Marseille. It is situated in an island near the Mediterranean Sea. It was the setting of The Count of Monte Cristo, a novel written by Alexandre Dumas.


Calanques Massif

If you are a hiking enthusiast, drop by the city’s market for some baguette, cheese and wine then proceed to the Calanques Massif.

Calanques Massif boasts of a 20-km trail going through inlets and creeks where rare birds like great horned owls, peregrine falcons and Bonelli eagles may be found.


Beaches
There are a lot of public beaches wherein you can freely swim and observe natural attractions such as rays and the vivid Mediterranean Sea. Some of these public beaches are the Huveaune Beach, Borely Beach, VieilleChapelle, Bonneveine Cove and Prado Seaside Park.


History and Architecture
As much as in your Nice trips, Marseille also offers a treasure of monuments and other interesting places.

You can revel in the remains of the original Roman and Greek building as well as homes during the 17th and 18th centuries and fortifications during the 16th century.

A lot of cathedrals and churches also offer free visits. Particular examples are the Old Major Cathedral built during the 12th century, the New Major Cathedral built during the 19th century, and the Saint-Laurent Church built during the 17thcentury.